The flood was a slow-motion disaster, the underpinning of which was a series of blizzards during the previous winter. When the snow melted, the southern end of the Red River flooded. Rain followed, then a freeze. It took almost two weeks for the disaster to reach its zenith in Grand Forks, N.D. By then, the skies were clear, the temperatures warm, and the disaster immense.
Flood memories Thousands of people lost their homes in the flood of '97. Billions of dollars has been spent rebuilding homes and businesses, but for many people it's still a painful memory.
Remembering the dead When many people think about the great flood of 1997 they think about flooded homes and burning buildings. When they talk about the destruction caused by the flood many say, "at least no one died." In the small town of Kent, Minnesota a granite monument is a reminder the flood took more than buildings.
Lessons from the flood While residents rebuilt homes, the National Weather Service had to rebuild its credibility. The agency gets immediate satellite updates of river stages today. Submerged bridges that held back floodwaters in 1997 are now
part of the weather service flood model.
A flood changed a newspaper The Grand Forks Herald's editorial voice went from "shrill to sympathetic" after the 1997 Red River flood disaster, the newspaper's publisher and editor says.
People of the flood In 1997, Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Gunderson spent several weeks covering the Red River flooding. He prepared this audio montage of the people who fought it.
On April 19, 1997, fire broke out in downtown Grand Forks. Even with the city flooded, there was no water available to fight the fire. (Video from Grand Forks Fire Department)
Members of the Grand Forks Fire Department patrol downtown by boat. (Video from Grand Forks Fire Department)
Grand Forks' video commemorating the 10th anniversary. (Watch)
MPR's Midmorning revisits Grand Forks on Wednesday, April 18 at 10 a.m. CT, to find out how things have changed.
On April 19, 1997, fire broke out in downtown Grand Forks. Even with the city flooded, there was no water available to fight the fire. (Video from Grand Forks Fire Department) 
